Fruit-drier



(No Modell.)

A. CONKLIN.

FRUIT DRIBR. No. 448,846.. 'Y Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

ARTHUR OONKLIN, OF GRANTS PASS, OREGON.

FRUIT-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,846, dated March24, 1891.

Application filed June 13, 1890. Serial No. 355,277. (No model.)

To all whom, it 71mg/ concern.:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR CONKLIN, of Grants Pass, in the county ofJosephine and State of Oregon, have invented certain new andusefullmprovementsin Fruit-Driers; and I 'do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to theletters and iigures of reference marked thereon, which formpart of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fruit-driers.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved fruit-drierexceedingly simple and durable in construction and composed of Y aminimum number of parts, cheap in first cost, and easy 'and effective inoperation. These objects are accomplished by, and this inventionconsists in, certain novel features of construction and in combinationsof parts more fullydescribed hereinafter, and particularly pointed outin the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective of thedrier, one of the sides being shown raised to admit air. Fig. 2isahorizontal cross-section of the drier through one of the steam-chambers.Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in plane of line :c oc, Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the reference-letter a indicates the closed flatrectangular sheet-metal boiler or water-vessel havingasuitable fillingopening or nozzle a.

Four vertical hollow columns or tubes ZJ eX- tend up from the fourcorners of this boiler, and at their lower ends are secured rigidly uponthe exterior' corners of the boiler, with 'their interiors communicatingwith the interior of the boiler by means of lateral ports.

'These columns are of a desirable height to support any desired numberof the steamchambers c. Each steam-chamber is made rectangular in shape,of sheet metal, to form a narrow steam-space between the walls thereof.At its four corners each steam-chamber is secured to the four hollowcolumns, and each column is provided with a lateral port 1 into chamberfrom the boiler. The top of each c hamber is flat and plain, while thebottom of each chamber slopes from the center down in oppositedirections toward each end or side and the columns thereat, so that thewater of condensation will never settle in the chamber, but willimmediately and constantly flow ton ward and into said columns and backinto the boiler. These chambers are arranged in a vertical series asuitable distance apart, so as to form the heating spaces or chamberscibetween them, with the four supporting and steam-supplying columnslocated at the eX- terior ends thereof. The uppermost chamber of theseries can be provided with an exitvopening e for escape of steam.

The two rear supportingcolumns are provided on their rear sides with thevertical ilanges f, each at one edge secured longitudinally to itsrespective column and bent to form the two grooves or ways in which theback plate 2 can vertically slide. The .two front and the rear columnsare provided on their end sides with the corresponding iianges f,forming the ways or longitudinal vertical grooves in which the verticalend plates 3 slide.

The fruit to be dried is placed upon slides or trays g, each consistingof a rectangular piece of sheet metal having its end edges bent down toform flanges g', upon which the tray slides, and which hold it fromengagement with the top wall of the chamber upon which it rests-and thistray is vprovided with a suitable handle b, preferably, for small trays,consistingof a wireloop secured to the tray. One or more trays can beplaced in each chamber. Spaces open at the upper ends are left betweenthe chambers and inclosing slides to allow steam and vapors from theevaporation of the fruit to pass up and out. The front of the drier isusually left open, although it can be provided with closing means, ifdesired.

The great advantages of this compact, durable, and cheaply-constructeddrier are obvious. As the chambers are partly closed in, more heat canbe obtained with the same amount of steam, retaining the heat fromcolumns and sides, which would otherwise be wast-ed, thereby drying thefruit more rapidly and with better results. Then, again, the slides thesteam-chamber to discharge steam into a being movable, the heat in thevarious com- IOO partments can be regulated by moving thevertically-adjustableside plates attheredges slides np and down to openor close the eom- Confined in vertical Ways on said posts, seidpertinents. sides inolosing said heating-spaces and foi'm- T5 Inoperation the driei1 can be placed on :L ing spaces open at the top atthe ends of the 5 stove or ovel` any other source of heat.steam-chambers and heating-spaces.

That I claim is- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as Afruit-drier consisting of the boiler, the my own I aiix my signature inpresence of vertical series of steam-chambers forming the two Witnesses.

intervening heating-spaces, the hollow yelti- ARTHUR CONKLIN'. 1o calposts supporting and located at the exte- Witnesses:

rior corners of said chambers and opening i M. M. IIARKNESS,

into the boiler and said chambers, and the l. A. BOOTH.

